Conte was spotted in conversation with the Chilean prior to Chelsea’s Carabao Cup clash with Arsenal on Wednesday evening.

Asked what was said, the Chelsea boss replied: ‘I said hello. He’s a great player and knows very well in my first season in Juventus we tried to buy him from Udinese and then he decided to go to Barcelona.

‘He knows well my admiration for him and this was a good chance to say hello to him.’